Method of locating leaks in underground pipes



G.V.PAYNE. METHOD 0F LOCATING LEAKS IN UNDERGROUND PIPES.

APPLICATIGN FILED AUG-8. 1917.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

Vio

inafter.

UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE V. PAYNE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Original application led February 23,

.To all w t0/m t may concern.' A

Beit known that I, Groen V. PAYNE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Y in Methods of Locating Leaks in Underground Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in methodsof locating leaks in underground pipes, such as the conventional underground gas pipe, and has for its object the production of a method and apparatus whereby the location of a leak in a pipe ofthe character mentioned may be ascertained with comparative ease and expedition, the present application constituting a division of my prior application iled February 23, 1917, Serial l No. 150,544. Other objects will appear here- With these objects in view, my invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of p arts hereinafter described and The invention will be vbest-understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 1s a fragmentary sectional view through a section of ground, exposing the underground vaults, conduits and fluid pressure pipe and illustrating the employment of a. method and apparatus embodying my invention, and ,i I

- Fig. 2, a detail view of means for permitting tests employed in the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated two vaults or manholes 1 and 1 which are embedded or sunk in the ground and constructed in the usual manner. Extending between the vaults 1 and 1 are conduits 2 which ordinarily serve to accommodate the electric, telegraph or other wires which are buried below the surface of the ground, said conduits being formed, as is usual, of a plurality of alining sections, the joints between adjacent sections of said conduits being left not tightly closed so that gases or fluids in the ground in the vicinity may enter through said joints into the interiors of said conduits. Arranged adjacent the conduits 2 is a fluid. pressure pipe 3, such as an ordinary gas pipe through which is conveyed illuminatingl gas. In the pipe 3 is shown the rupture or leak 4 Specification of Letters Patent.

METHOD OF LOCATING LEAKS IN UNDERGROUND PIPES.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

1917, Serial No. 150,544. Divided and this application led August Serial TNO. 185,020.

which it is desired to locate in order that the leak or rupture may be stopped or repaired. The construction set forth is old and well known, they same being used at the present time in most cities or towns of considerable size.

In the practice of my invention, it is firstdetermined between which two vaults the leak in the fluid ares'sure pipe has occurred, this being readily ascertained through the sense of smell, since upon a leak occurring in the fluid pipe, the Huid will permeadev the soil in the vicinity and find its way to the conduits whence it will pass to and be discharged into the adjacent vaults. This being so. by removing the closures of said vaults, the presence of a strong odor will indicate that a leak has occurred adjacent thereto. After determining that the leak in the pipe 3 is located somewhere between the vaults 1 and 1', the covers of the latter are removed, and the upper-end of the vault 1 closed by a transparent closure 5, preferably of glass,rthe transparent closure 5 being used so asto permit of the passage of light in order to illuminate the vault for' operation therein. A felt packing or gasket 6 is preferably interposed between the j upper edge of the vault and the under side of the closure 5 to insure a reasonably tight connection. The closure 5 is formed with an opening overV which is arranged a nipple 7 for connection with a flexible hose 8 extending to a suitable manually operable blowerV 9, the arrangement being such that, when the blower 9 is operated, air will be withdrawn from the vault 1 to create a draft through the conduits 2 in the direction shown by the arrows. The upper end of vault 1 is left open in orderv to permit of ready entry of air drawn through the conduits 2. In the event of a wind blowing in the proper direction, the blower 9 may be dispensed with and the upper end of the vault left open, since a wind blowing in the proper direction will create a draft through the conduits 2 practically as effectually as that created by said blowing device.

The creation of a draft in the direction shown and mentioned through the conduits 2, draws the gas escaping from the leak 4 and entering said conduits outwardly through the vault 1, so that said conduits will contain only fresh or sweet air which has been drawn thereintoV by the blovver9 or by reason of the draft created in said conduits.

In carrying on the method, tWo testingpipes and 16 :are employed, the pipe'15 being somewhat longer than the pipe v16.VA

Pipe 15 is connected by means of a hose or n.tube 1'? with a hollow shaft 18 of a hose reel arranged outside of the vault 1. vThe shaft 18 is connected by means of a pipe 19 with" the discharge end of an ordinary centrifugal blower 20. VPipe 16 is connected by means of a hose 21 with. the hollow shaft 22 of another hose reel connected by a pipe 23 WithVv the intake of the blower 20.` A discharge v branch 24E governed by a three-Way valve is provided for pipe 19.

Iny actual operation the pump or fan9 is `first V.operated VVVto clear vthe vaults and conduits as far as possible from gastvhich has prreviouslyrleaked therreinto.l Then one end ofthe conduit 2 Which it is desired to test is closed with aY plug 25 andthe operationof the fan 9 discontinued. duit 2 is then tested by means ofthe pipes 15 and 16. In doing so, fan20 is operated to force 'a draft of air from said fan out-V wardly through pipe 15V andbackthrough pipe 16, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.

The pipes thus operated are adjusted to different longitudinal positions in the. plug to conduits 2 and the draft from said pipes tested foreach position'.` This test is vreadily made by throwing the valve to cause discharge of air through the'branch 24 lWhich may be tested by the sense of smell or other? Wise. The pipes 15 and 16 are thus adjusted along through the conduits2 until'the-odor 4of gas is noticed which Will indicate the point atvvh'ich the leak takes place. Y

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying Vmy invention into effect, this is vcapable of variation and modication Without depart-` ing from the spirit of the invention. I,

The Vplugged con- Y Y leak;

[1,358,778 Y Y Y r Y therefore,-do. not Wish'to-be limited to the precise detailsY of construction set forth, but

modifications as come Within appended claims.l j y .Having described my invention what IV claim as new and desire toA secure byrLetters Patent is:

the scope of the y n Y1. The method testingforleaksnvhieh consists inproviding a substantially inclosed draft exposedat one point.; moving the eX- posed portion of saiddraftthrough-thejre# gion of ,the anticipatedleak; `'and testing the draft for the'v presenceV of leaking luid,jsub stantially as described. Y

' desire to avail myself of such variations andV l v e. The Vmei-.hoe 0fsang for leaks, which Y consists infproviding aY circuitoussubstantially inclosed` 'draft exposed kat fone point; moving the'reX'posed Yportion of said draftY through'the region of the anticipated leak;

and testing" the draft for theV presence of' leaking fluid, substantially as described.'V

Y 3. The method of testing for leaks which consists in 'providing pipes open at adjoiningends and inducing a draft through said pipes; moving the adjoiningends V.of `said pipes through theregion'of'thefanticipated 'Y leak; and testingthe draft for the presence of 'leaking fluid, vsubstantially' as'des'cribed.

1. The method'of testing for leaks which consists in providing pipes of different lengths open at adjoining Yends and inducing a draft through said'pipes inopposite directionsg'fmoving the adjoining ends Ofsaid pipes through the region of the anticipated and testing the draft for the Vpresence I 

